Ghalib Lovers, Toughen Up! Shashi Tharoor Just Made A Gaffe

Shashi Tharoor gets Ghalib’s birthday wrong, misquotes his poetry; Gets schooled by Javed Akhtar

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. 

(File Photo: IANS)

Has Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who can be easily called the darling of the literati, and has often amused us with his impeccable command of the English language, let down a bit, the same circle that venerated him?

Yes, the leader committed not one, but two blunders - first by wrongly attributing a piece of shayari to Mirza Ghalib, and second by wishing the famous Urdu poet on an incorrect birth date.

Here’s what Tharoor had posted on Twitter, captioning the lines as belonging to Ghalib, on what he said was Ghalib’s 220th birthday.

Blunder No. 1

Mr. Tharoor wished Mirza Ghalib for his 220th birthday, on July 20.

But Ghalib’s birthday actually falls on December 27!

But to be fair, soon after the erudite politician realised his gaffe, he was quick to rectify the mistake.

The matter would have ended here, but no... little did Mr. Tharoor realise that he had unknowingly committed another gaffe!

Blunder No. 2

Not only had Tharoor got the birthdate wrong, but also wrongly attributed the lines to Ghalib, which had actually been written by another poet.

And this time, noted lyricist Javed Akhtar had pointed out this blunder.

Tharoor was courteous enough to realise his gaffe and apologise for it again.

But that didn’t stop these Twitter users from taking a slight jab at him!

Oops!

Right Back at Ya!

Don’t Google Poetry guys!

Savage

Meanwhile, all Ghalib lovers reading about this incorrect attribution must be eyerolling to the max!